Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tickled pink!

I ran 5.35 miles today in 63 minutes!!! That's the best I have EVER done! For those of you who've been following ... I started running (for the first time in my life) last spring and then gave it up in late summer. I tried again in the fall with a "Couch to 10K" program, which is supposed to last 13 weeks ... I've now been at it technically 20 weeks and this evening I completed the 8th week of the program. I had some fits and starts, and a number of weeks that I repeated as I wasn't sure I was yet ready (physically or mentally) to move on. But overall ... this program has been transformational!

To say that I am thrilled with my progress would be SUCH an understatement! I had really struggled over the past month ... I was now running far enough (5 minutes running for each 1 minute of walking over an hour) that just training on the weekends wasn't working any more, I needed some mid-week endurance runs as well. But with the dark days in Seattle (I won't run in the dark and I can't stand treadmills) I wasn't getting the mid week training that I needed.

So this week I decided enough was enough. I put a 4PM running appointment on my calendar for Tuesday and Thursday and today I kept my appointment ... it was great. The Interurban Trail is a biking trail that goes right by the office and I was able to get out and run, come back before dark for a quick meeting with one of my employees and then get home, showered and fed by 6:30 ... it was perfect!

I've also made some progress on my next envelope quilt -- Sarah ... I promise a tutorial on this one! If you remember, I designed this last summer and gave it to my sister-in-law for her birthday.

I am not so good in the 'planning' department for quilting and I know that I often waste a great deal of time because I cut, piece, sew, iron then cut, piece, sew, iron then cut, piece, sew, iron (you get the picture).

So Saturday evening was spent cutting. Cutting 448 - 5" squares (half solid and half print). I am making a smaller quilt (50" x 60") for a community outreach program to a senior citizen's home and then a larger one (60" x 70") for my guest room at the cabin. In the cabin, this will be the brown on top of the bed that ties into the box spring cover I blogged about here.

And Sunday afternoon was spent piecing, sewing and ironing. I got 25 of the 112 blocks I will need completed. Tonight I chain stitched an additional 44 squares and will get them cut and ironed later this week.

I'll share photos soon ... as the dark brown with the Moda Momo fabrics really creats some great contrast!

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About Me

I am a creative soul with an analytical mind ... a "left/right brain" conundrum ... emerging from a self-imposed break from corporate life. Focused on finding a work/life balance that works. I've recently returned to work ... and life is still winning!!!

Followers

and it's Friday !!!

Shiner was our first English Setter who taught me the value of "stopping to smell the roses" ... or in her case swimming after a duck, chasing a worn-out frisbee, or hunting down the RIGHT stick thrown in the woods.

We should all enjoy life as much as Shiner did ... so I choose to look through Shiner's View ...